Tackling climate challenge

AROUND 120 north west business leaders were at an event in Manchester today as part of a video-linked `May Day summit' to pledge action on making Britain greener. More than 1,200 top UK businesses are represented at 10 simultaneous meetings, including a national hub event at St. James's Palace, London, hosted by Prince Charles.

AROUND 120 north west business leaders were at an event in Manchester today as part of a video-linked `May Day summit' to pledge action on making Britain greener.

More than 1,200 top UK businesses are represented at 10 simultaneous meetings, including a national hub event at St. James's Palace, London, hosted by Prince Charles.

The summit, bringing together chief executives, board-level directors and senior managers, is intended to mark the beginning of a nationwide business movement to lead the UK towards a low-carbon economy.

Companies are being asked to make firm commitments about their own operations, and in dealing with their employees, suppliers and customers.

In the north west, companies including AstraZenecca , DLA Piper , the Co-operative Group and BAE Systems were taking part in the event at New Century House, Corporation Street, from 9am to 4pm. In the afternoon Mark Atherton, from the North West Development Agency , was leading a session on the regional implications of the plan.

Risks

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: "Our goal is to make England's north west the leading region in addressing the causes of climate change and responding to the business risks and opportunities that a changing climate will bring. No region is better equipped than ours to tackle the environmental challenge of the age."

The summit is sponsored nationally by Alliance-Boots , Barclays , B&Q , DLA Piper, EDF Energy and Sky . Regional events are supported by regional development agencies and Business in the Community member companies.

Julia Cleverdon, chief executive of Business in the Community, said: "The involvement of UK business is vital to efforts to tackle climate change. This is not only because of the need for business to cut their own emissions, but also because UK business has enormous influence on national life and unmatched reach across the global economy."

Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust, commented: "Cutting carbon emissions creates exciting new opportunities for business - opening up new markets and commercial possibilities, as well as reducing costs."